Wicker: Federal 'printing press' adds to debt

U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker outlined his views about the state of things today at Starkville Kiwanis Club today.
The difference between local, state and federal governments is the national-level entity "has a printing press and over time if Congress and the president in their wisdom wanted to spend some money and we didn't have the money, they just ginned up the printing press," Wicker said. "Over three years' time, that printing press ... will have added $4 trillion to the national debt."
Mississippi State University "still continues to provide great research for the American taxpayers," Wicker said, adding that MSU is involved with "almost every federal agency."
The university has conducted $340 million in research for the federal government over the past 15 years, he said.
In 1995 – when Wicker joined the Appropriations Committee in the House of Representatives – MSU received $36.5 million in research funds. Last year, the university performed $92.4 million in research, he said.
Two videos from his appearance before the civic club today have been posted to the SDN Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/StarkvilleDailyNews[3].
Look for additional details from Wicker's stop in Starkville in Wednesday's edition of the newspaper.